Suarez supports lifting of term limits for members of Congress

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said on Monday he would support the lifting of term limits for  members of Congress  indicated under the draft federal charter proposed by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other lawmakers.

“This is my position ha, my personal position and not the position of the minority (bloc). If we are so concerned on the number of the same family (in a province)… I would go for that. I-limit na lang ‘yung mga member ng family na pwede tumakbo (Limit the number of family members who can run for public office) but remove the (term) limit,” the Quezon 3rd District representative told reporters in an interview.

The Arroyo ally said term limits should not restrict a candidate from running for public office as long as the voters want him or her.

“Parang constitutional provision ‘yan (It’s like a constitutional provision) when you curtail the right of a person to vote for who I want to vote. Why do I have to be subjected to a term limit? As long as I want this person to govern or run my town, my province, my district, di ba? It’s the decision of the voter,” Suarez said.

The House constitutional amendments panel has approved and referred to the plenary Resolution of Both Houses of Congress No. 15 which provides for a presidential-bicameral-federal system of government. 

The Arroyo-led draft charter is different from the charter President Rodrigo Duterte’s Consultative Committee (Con-com) approved last July 3.

Under the House version, members of Congress – senators and congressmen– would be elected for a term of four years. There was no term limit provided but Congress members should be college degree holders.

The first election under the proposed Constitution would be held on the second Monday of May 2022.

Con-com Spokesman Conrado “Ding” Generoso has slammed the House draft charter as “worse than the 1935 Constitution.” He also said it would be a hard sell given its lack of anti-political dynasty and anti-turncoatism provisions.

READ: Arroyo’s draft charter ‘could be worse than 1935 Constitution’—Generoso

But Arroyo said the draft is still up for approval at the lower chamber. /ee

READ: Term limits for congressmen under federal system a ‘collegial decision’ — Arroyo